There is hereby
re-established the Mount Hope City Planning Commission which is composed of
nine members of which seven members shall be residents of the city and two
members shall reside outside the city, but within the designated planning area
of the city which is within at least three miles of the corporate limits of the
city.The planning commission was
originally created by Ordinance No. 221 which was passed and approved on
February 6, 1968.

The members of the
planning commission shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the
governing body at the first regular meeting of the governing body in May of
each year and take office at the next regular meeting of the commission.All members shall be appointed for staggered
terms of three years each.The
appointments shall be so made that the terms of office of the members residing
outside of the corporate limits of the city do not expire within the same
year.By the re-establishment of the
commission, all current members continue to serve their present terms of
office.In case of death, incapacity,
resignation or disqualification of any member, appointment to such a vacancy on
the commission shall be made of the unexpired term of the member leaving the
membership.Should any member have a
conflict of interest, either directly or indirectly, in any matter coming
before the commission, he or she shall be disqualified to discuss or vote on
the matter.The governing body may adopt
rules and regulations providing for removal of members of the commission.Members of the commission shall serve without
compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the
performance of their duties as deemed desirable by the governing body.

The members of the
planning commission shall meet at such time and place as may be fixed in the
commission’s bylaws.The commission
shall elect one member as chairperson and one member as vice-chairperson who
shall serve one year and until their successors have been elected.A secretary shall also be elected who may or
may not be a member of the commission.Special meetings may be called at any time by the chairperson or in the
chairperson’s absence by the vice-chairperson.The commission shall adopt bylaws for the transaction of business and
hearing procedures.All actions by the
commission shall be taken by a majority vote of the entire membership of the
commission; except that, a majority of the members present and voting at the hearing
shall be required to recommend approval or denial of an amendment to the zoning
regulations, a rezoning amendment or a special use permit.A proper record of all the proceedings of the
commission shall be kept.The
commission, from time to time, may establish subcommittees, advisory committees
or technical committees to advise or assist in the activities of the
commission.

The governing body and
planning commission shall have all the rights, powers and duties as authorized
in K.S.A. 12-741 et seq., and amendments thereto, which are hereby incorporated
by reference as part of this section and shall be given full force and effect
as if the same had been fully set forth.The commission is hereby authorized to make or cause to be made, adopted
and maintained a comprehensive plan for the city and any unincorporated
territory lying outside of the city but within Sedgwick County in which the
city is located, which in the opinion of the commission forms the total
community of which the city is a part.The commission shall also cause to be prepared, adopted and maintained
zoning and subdivision regulations on all land within the jurisdiction
designated by the governing body.The
comprehensive plan and zoning and subdivision regulations are subject to final
approval of the governing body by ordinance.Periodically, the governing body may request the commission to undertake
other assignments related to planning and land use regulations.

The planning
commission is hereby designated to also serve as the city’s board of zoning
appeals with all the powers and duties as provided for in K.S.A. 12-759.The board shall adopt rules in the form of
bylaws for its operation which shall include hearing procedures.Such bylaws shall be subject to the approval
of the governing body.Public records
shall be kept of all official actions of the board which shall be maintained
separately from those of the commission.The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing evidence
presented, findings of fact, decisions and the vote upon each question or
appeal.Amajority of the members of the board present
and voting at the hearing shall be required to decide any appeal.Subject to subsequent approval of the
governing body, the board shall establish a scale of reasonable fees to be paid
in advance by the appealing party.The
present membership of the board of zoning appeals shall be disbanded effective
immediately.

The governing body
shall approve a budget for the planning commission and make such allowances to
the commission as it deems proper, including funds for the employment of such
employees or consultants as the governing body may authorize and provide, and
shall add the same to the general budget.Prior to the time that moneys are available under the budget, the
governing body may appropriate moneys for such purposes from the general
fund.The governing body may enter into
such contracts as it deems necessary and may receive and expend funds and
moneys from the state or federal government or from any other resource for such
purposes.

The Comprehensive Plan
for the City of Mount Hope, Kansas, incorporated herein by reference, meeting
the conditions for adoption prescribed in K.S.A. 12-747, is hereby adopted and
declared to be the official guide for future development of the City. The
Comprehensive Plan shall constitute the basis or guide for public action to
insure a coordinated and harmonious development or redevelopment which will
best promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and
general welfare as well as wise and efficient expenditures of public funds.